First WARHAMMER 40,000 video roleplaying game announced

Owlcat Games have confirmed they are working on the first-ever Warhammer 40,000 CRPG. The developer is best-known for their video games in the Pathfinder fantasy roleplaying setting.

The CRPG is called Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, sharing a name with both the original 1986 incarnation of the miniature wargame and the 2009 tabletop roleplaying game from Fantasy Flight. This version of the WH40K franchise sees the player take command of a semi-independent starship as it trades between the various worlds of the Imperium and, sometimes and controversially, various alien species. Although Rogue Traders serve the Imperium and the Emperor, they also have leeway to act on their own initiative, despite the risk of being infected with heresy.

Rogue Trader will allow you to build a party from various classes and - heresy! - several races, including Terran and Eldar. The game is set in the Koronus Expanse, a dangerous frontier region, where the player will have to overcome obstacles through roleplaying and turn-based combat.

Owlcat previously developed the Pathfinder adaptations Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous. Both games were highly praised for their storylines and variable outcomes, although also criticised (and praised!) for some old-school, hardcore design decisions.

Games Workshop also confirmed a number of other video games based on Warhammer properties are in development, including a retro-FPS called Boltgun that looks like Doom with a 40K makeover.